Supplementary Note. 249 



The abolition of the long-established name Lecanium may be strictly 

 according to recognised rules of nomenclature ; but the result is somewhat 

 catastrophic. With the typical generic name, the name of the sub-family 

 {Lecani/n.-e) also disappears, becoming Coccin.il. But CocciN.'U had, 

 hitherto, been assigned to a diflferent sub-family containing the cochineal 

 insect (universally known as Coccus cacti) and its allies. The cochineal insects 

 are now referred to the genus Dactylopivs (hitherto accommodating the mealy- 

 bugs which have now to move on and take shelter under the genus Pseudococcus, 

 the Pseudococcus of old being renamed Phenacoccus). And so on, until most of 

 the names familiar by long usage seem to have been engaged in an elaborate 

 game of ' general post.' The extinction of such well-known names as Lecanium 

 and Mytilaspis (which now appear as Lepidosaphes), and the shuffling of the 

 genera Coccus, Dactylopius, and Pseudococcus will, I fear, entail considerable 

 confusion for many years to come. 



